"Sometimes I thought what the f*ck am I doing here?" - Honest Michael van Gerwen admits mental struggles in recent seasons

Michael van Gerwen returns to action on Thursday night for the latest round of the 2024 Premier League Darts looking to secure a record-breaking fourth weekly win in a row.

Things haven't always gone so well for the mighty Dutchman in recent seasons however, as he reflected in an honest interview with Online Darts. "This year I have a lot to defend," he admits. "But also, if you look at the way how I'm playing now compared to last year, I think I'm playing 80% better than last year so I think I can do a lot better this year."

"I played okay last year. I was good in a few tournaments, poor in a few tournaments, so you need to find the right balance for yourself," van Gerwen continues. "There's a lot more to get from me and I know that so there's pressure on my shoulders but I'm looking at it tournament by tournament this year."

This view of the year marks something of a significant switch in mindset for van Gerwen. "Last year I didn't enjoy the Premier League. I won three nights but I didn't enjoy it and when you don't want to be there, you're only going to work against yourself," he says. "I love to play on the stage, I love to do what I do but I needed to change my mindset."

Van Gerwen also feels his mindset wasn't in the right place on the Pro Tour last year. "I wasn't there with the right intent. I was there because I have to be there. Now, I want to perform well and that's different," he reveals. "Sometimes I thought what the fuck am I doing here? Everyone needs a reality check or a little slap on the bum."